During
1997, a more comprehensive search has been made of Helmes records in
England and the West Indies. This work has been headed by Susan
(Helm) Grimshaw.

It has
been determined that, by Colonial times, Helme families had spread to
a number of English Counties and to the West Indies in substantial numbers.
However, a preponderance of them were at Lancashire, early on.
There, those of Goosnargh and Chipping Parishes are a particular focus.
This work has pointed to other related Helmes in Worcestershire, Yorkshire,
and Dorsetshire. Those at Dorsetshire have been shown to have
been heavily involved in the English colonization and development of
the West Indies. Significantly, a number of Helmes have been shown
to have come to the American Colonies from there.

A particularly
helpful informational source of data is the work of Vere Langford Oliver
in the series of "CARIBBEANA" publications in the Barbados Historical
Society Journal magazines. Hardback books exist for this data,
and are available on film at the U. S. Library of Congress. There
are a number of Helmes references and references of families into which
they were intermarried. Also, these same families are prominent
in American Colonial history. The most notable Helme records of
having come here are those of John and Thomas Helme which are discussed
elsewhere in this paper. These data are being assembled and assessed
as to their significance for American Helmes genealogies.

Tracing
the West Indies Helme and allied families to the American Colonies is
a major thrust of the present effort, as well as is attempts to connect
them with the known Helmes here, such as the Helms brothers who were
in North Carolina beginning in the 1750's. Tracing the West Indies
Helmes back to England is also a major thrust. In England, the
major objective is to tie the several English Helmes groups together
and to attempt to identify their earlier beginnings.

In one
Lancashire History, the result is anticipated by a statement that the
Helmes originated at a place called Helme, now called Elmridge, in Chipping
Parish, Lancashire, which is just North of Preston. It is presumptive
to expect to establish this grand linear descent path of the Lancashire
Helmes to SW England , to the West Indies , and thence to the American
Colonies, and, specifically, by some path, to the Helms families who
were in North Carolina, beginning in 1747. Nevertheless, that
is the long range goal of this work in this English option.

(4)

In a recent visit to England.
a visit was made to the exact place which is reported to have been the
earliest "seat" of the Helmes in England at a place called
Helme, now Elmridge, it is literally a cross roads of ancient roads
and pack animal paths. Four road posts still stand, and the ancient
pack road still exists as depicted in this pictorial montage. Click
here to view photo graphs in a new window. There is a present-day
dairy farm there, with an old stone house, now stuccoed, and a barn
with a 13XX date on it. That was about the time the area was seized
by Scots in one of the border skirmishes

The Gillingham
(Dorset) Helmes were descendants of the Worcestershire Helmes because
they bore the Worcestershire armorial crest on their headstones in the
Caribbean.

The Goosnargh
Helmes have been found related to the Helmes of Chipping, Ribchester,
Hollowforth and Lea (Lancashire), the Yorkshire Helmes and Berkshire
Helmes.

HELME'S IN SCOTLAND

We have not worked much in Scotland, However, we have found some timely
Scottish Helme data.

Just recently, the following data has been found. It shows Helme’s
in several Scottish Parishes in Roxburgshire in the border area with
England, and elsewhere. We have also recently seen some Helme data in
Hawick Parish and in Northern Scotland in Sutherland County. There is
a place and river there called Helmdale.
(We have not seen any emigration data for these people. Also a migration
direction was often: first to Ireland, then to America) .

The Library of Congress
was researched and 215 references were found that deal with genealogy
in Scotland. To view this reference listing click
here.

Ashkirk, Bowden, Selkirk, and Wilton are all parishes in Roxburghshire.
Midlothian is the next co., up. The parish there was Liberton.
Maps of these areas are available.
The wives mentioned were: Broune, Boutcher,Butcher, Cash, Cass, Chatto,
Cuthbertsone, Dicks, Douglas, Huggon, Purdie, Rennick, Riddell, Scot,
Thompson, Ustoun. Probably Cass=Cash, Boutcher-Butcher, Ustoun=Houston,
and Broune =Brown. Of these, Butcher might be tied to the Thomas Helme
family of Barbados. Houston is a NC name.

These data are weak at this point, but do show Helme people in Scotland
in an appropriate time period.
Additionally, our recent Genetic data has pointed to the possibility
that our people may have originated in Scotland. Susan Grimshaw had
previously expressed an opinion that these Scottish Helme's were probably
tied to the Lancashire Helme's. The naming patterns are very similar
to those in our NC Helms families.

A list of LOC holdings on Scottish Genealogy is given in this list (Link
to “Library of Congress Subject Scotland–Genealogy.htm”
(Attached to this mail.).
Also, GENUKI has extensive website information on Scotland Genealogy."

End of addition Rev 6.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
IN THE ENGLISH STUDIES

Since 1997, a more
comprehensive search has been continued of Helmes records in England
and the West Indies. This work has been headed-up by Susan (nee Helm)
Grimshaw.

It has been determined
that, by Colonial times, Helme families had spread to a number of English
Counties and to the West Indies in substantial numbers. However, a preponderance
of them were at Lancashire, early on. There, those of Goosnargh and
Chipping Parishes are a particular focus. This work has pointed to other
related Helmes in Worcestershire, Yorkshire, and Dorsetshire. Those
at Dorsetshire have been shown to have been heavily involved in the
English colonization and development of the West Indies. Significantly,
a number of Helmes have been shown to have come to the American Colonies
from there.

A particularly helpful
informational source of data is the work of Vere Langford Oliver in
the "CARIBBEANA" publications in the Barbados Historical Society
Journal magazines. Hardback books exist for this data, and are available
on film at the U. S. Library of Congress. There are a number of Helmes
references and references of families into which they were intermarried.
Also, these same families are prominent in American Colonial history.

Tracing the West
Indies Helme and allied families to the American Colonies is a major
thrust of the present effort, as well as is attempts to connect them
with the known Helmes here, such as the Helms brothers who were in North
Carolina beginning in the 1750's, and other Helm/Helms having English
origins. (Recognizing that some American Helm families were not of English
origin.)

Tracing the West
Indies Helmes back to England is also a major thrust. In England, the
major objective is to tie the several English Helmes groups together
and to attempt to identify their earlier beginnings.

In one Lancashire
History, the result is anticipated by a statement that the Helmes originated
at a place called Helme, now called Elmridge, in Chipping Parish, Lancashire,
which is just North of Preston. It is presumptive to expect to establish
this grand linear descent path of the Lancashire Helmes to SW England
, to the West Indies , and thence to the American Colonies, etc., but
that is the long range objective of these efforts.

The Gillingham (Dorset)
Helmes were descendants of the Worcestershire Helmes because they bore
the Worcestershire armorial crest on their headstones in the Caribbean.

The Goosnargh Helmes
have been found related to the Helmes of Chipping, Ribchester, Hollowforth
and Lea (Lancashire), and the Yorkshire Helmes and Berkshire Helmes

Some of the Gillingham
Helmes must have gone on to the American Colonies from the Caribbean-
some American Helmes have got to be their descendants. What is meant
here is that, besides John and Thomas of Barbados, who we do have ships
passenger lists for, as examples, other Helmes in the West Indies also
probably spawned settlers here.

PRELIMINARY
CONKWRIGHT MANUSCRIPT REVIEW

Since many have focused
on the possibility that the Helm families of Frederick Co., VA originated
in Goosnargh, Lancashire England, a review of the paper by the first
such writer has been made.

A review of the
Conkwright Manuscript ("Shenandoah Families" by Bessie Taul
Conkwright) was furnished by Susan Grimshaw, who is our principal source
person on the English studies. Susan brings a knowledge of Helm/Helme/Elme,
etc. data from England and the Caribbean, and has here indicated some
cross-talk of Conkwright and other information. Bessie had strongly
focused on the possibility that the Helm family of Frederick Co., Virginia
(Leonard and Meredith Helm etc) had stemmed from the family of Thomas
Helme of Goosnargh, Lancashire. Bessie stopped short of proving that
thesis, however. The problem was that the sons of Thomas had disappeared.
Where did they go?

Susan wrote: I took
a quick look in the Harris Library in Preston, where I read that Thomas
Helme's wife (Church House, Goosnargh) was fined for being a recusant
in the early 1660s. This is proof positive that the family was definitely
Catholic. Shortly afterwards, Thomas died and the boys disappeared -
possibly to America. I think things must have been getting a little
too hot for them and they had to leave, certainly out of the county.

In addition, some
data shows that the name Leonard was used a lot in that Lancashire Helme
family. Leonard may be an allied name by marriage.

Susan wrote: "My
initial observations on Conkwright are as follows:
By page numbers in Conkwright,

P69 1768 Thomas Helme
was deeded 295 acres on Opecion by Richard Chapman, the land having
been granted to Chapman 8/26/1766. (Christiana Helme married Aaron Chapman
- this one could be a relative). Also my Barbados map shows a Chapman
as a neighbor to a Helme on Barbados. Probably one of the Thomas Helmes.

P99.... Case of Helm
and Reed vs Crawford (The Reeds/Reads/Reids were Gillingham Helm relatives
through marriage and were scattered throughout the Caribbean).

P121.... Helm, George's
heirs vs John T Sparke (the Sparkes were on Barbados).

P145.... mentions
Sarah Wooley Vaughan (According to Vere Olivers writings - the Vaughans,
the Popes, Alleynes, Willoughbys, Clintons and Walkers were all related
through marriage). Also mentions John Calmes Smith (Smiths were on Barbados).And,
the Calmes tie into the Va. Helm family story by marriage. Willoughby,
the Gov., was from Shropshire.

P176.... mentions
Frances Sandford Fowler (Sanford is a Dorset name - it is a town just
outside of Poole - the Sanfords/Sandfords and the Fowlers were also
on Barbados in large numbers).

P182.... mentions
Hutchinson (they were on Barbados in large numbers).

P 191 mentions the
Pickets (they were also on Barbados and were related to the Thornhills).

P 205 mentions the
Hathaways - (again a Barbados connection).
Thus, there is ample reason to think that Leonard could have been associated
with Barbadian settlers, whether or not he was ever in the Caribbean.

Betty Vinski has
written: "Names associated with Leonard Helm in Virginia are: Tidwell,
Calmes, Copperidge, Madden, and Moffett. The Madden line connects to
Leonard's daughter Bridget and her husband, John Madden."

"The names in
the Parish Family History in Maryland are also interesting. The Dallas
Public Library had a copy when she was there. This is the line connected
to Leonard's son Mayberry. These families appear to have moved in and
out of Pennsylvania and Virginia, some settled in Ohio; a few went through
Kentucky: Parish, Lemon, Bosley, Cole, Price, etc. Some of these families
intermarried with the Gorsuch and Meredith families in Pennsylvania.
Apparently, the majority of them were Quakers. Betty thinks that some
of Leonard's family were in Pennsylvania at one time or another.

She also thinks the
various Helm branches may have been more in contact with one another
than we are aware of. There is a record that a son of Christopher Helme
of RI, James Helme, a justice there, was a personal friend of Benjamin
Franklin. Also, Benjamin Franklin's first business partner was Hugh
Meredith."

In separate reading,
but along the line of the above, Susan has written:

"While reading
my latest library book I noted that Richard Dutton was Governor of Barbados
in 1681 - is this the family from whom Dutton Helmes got his name, I
wonder?"

Since Susan's studies
in the Caribbean and in England show that many of the Helmes and Elmes
in the Caribbean stemmed from Gillingham, Dorsetshire, she thinks that
there is a more provable connection with the Gillingham Helmes that
with the Goosnargh Helmes, but there is some evidence to the contrary.

Betty Vinski has
written about Leonard Helm of the Shenandoah Valley of Va.:

"Some think
that Leonard HELM was born about 1660 in Goosnargh, Lancashire, England.
He died about 1745 in Frederick County, VA. Leonard Helm is said to
have immigrated to Virginia from England before 5 May 1720, when land
was granted to him for 4,000 acres in Essex County.

In 1724, he was residing
in Spotsylvania, which was cut from Essex in 1721. From 1724 until his
death in 1745, he has been traced in Spotsylvania, Caroline, Prince
William, Stafford and Frederick Counties of Virginia.

In his oath on 2
March 1724, he proved his right to take up land, stating that he had
entered this country with his wife Elizabeth, and children: Joseph,
Maybrie [Mayberry], Leonard, Ann, and Mary. On that same day, he served
on a jury, indicating that he was not a newcomer in the county.

On 3 November 1724,
the grand jury in the Spotsylvania court presented Captain Leonard Helms
and Elizabeth, his wife, MEREDITH HELMS and Ann, his wife, and others
for absenting themselves from divine services.

Susan Grimshaw has
written that the MEREDITH families came from the following English counties:
Cheshire
Denbigh (Wales)
Kent
Buckinghamshire
Devon
Shropshire (Salop for short)
Co Sligo, Ireland
Co Kildare, Ireland
Co Meath Ireland
Note: In, http://www.kindredkonnections.com
(In the spaces - type in Helme L) and one can find Leonard of Goosnargh.
It shows him marrying an Elizabeth Meredith, not verified. Leonard died
between 25 September and 6 November 1745, when his will was written
and probated. His wife was not mentioned: "In the name of God Amen.
ye Twentie fifth day of September 1745. I, LEONARD HELM, in ye Parish
and County of Frederick, a Colony of Virginia, being very sick and weak
in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks to God.

Therefore calling
to mind ye Mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all
men once to die, do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament,
viz: princiaplly and first of all, I Recommend my Soul to God and my
body to ye Earth to be Buried at ye Discretion of my Executors; and
as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless
me in this life, I give, Demise and Depose of ye Same in ye following
manner and form.

Item, I Give and
Bequeath to my Son MABRY HELM ye first Colt of my young black Mare.
Item, I Give and Bequeath to my son JOSEPH HELM Forty Shillings Current
Money of Virginia.

Item, I give to
CHRISTOPHER HELMS forty Shillings Current money.

(We don't have much
on that Christopher. but interestingly, The Gillingham Helmes, the Goosnargh
Helmes and the Long Sutton Helmes/Elmes all had Christopher's.)

[Note: There was
a Christopher HELM b.c. 1684 - in Somerset County, NJ d. 12-Aug-1771
age 87 Wife, Eleanor. He is buried in the Basking Ridge PRESBYTERIAN
churchyard in Somerset Co NJ. His headstone shows: died, age 87. There
was an unclaimed letter at the Trenton post office involving Moses and
Christopher Helm. Just who those two Christopher's were is not known.
Remember that Moses Helm established a Presbyterian Church in Bedford
Co., Va. In either case Christopher probably came from Britain-whether
England or Ireland is in question.]

Susan found a Leonard
Helme at Cartmel which is at the top of the Lake district.

Now it looks as though
Jane (wife of Leonard) died two days after her son Thomas was baptized
- childbirth must have killed her. Did this same Leonard then remarry
Eliz. Greenwood on 23 Nov 1687 - if he did. then, he didn't waste much
time, though he obviously needed to find another wife to look after
his baby.

NOW, from the above
we know that Leonard's son, Thomas, was baptized up at Cartmel in the
Lake District and it says that Leonard is from Churchtown. The only
Churchtown on the UK atlas is the one in Lancashire and that is near
Garstang (nearly at Goosnargh). Cartmel may have been Jane's home place.
Thus, maybe this Leonard could be described as a Goosnargh Leonard Helme.
If so,the link with Leonard of Virginia is in prospect.

BUTLER/HARRISON/NEILS/WORRELLS

The majority of the
surnames associated with Helmes were also on Barbados and Nevis. Starting
with the Butler family of Barbados which we know the Gillingham Helmes
were related to them and also with The Butler families of Nevis of which
the more prominent member was Captain Gregory Butler, a commissioner
under General Venables c1645. He bore arms recorded by Caribbean ......
"Duval records" this crest belonged to the families of the
Irish nobility and gives several other crests used by other Butler families.
Among these the crest of Butler families of London, Durham and Scotland
is that of a covered cup. The Harrison family of Barbados was connected
by marriage with both the Worrell and the Butler family.

The Butlers were
also on Jamaica. The above Worrell family was from Clifton, Bristol,
England and was intermarried with the Neils-who had intermarried with
the Leonard Helm family of Virginia.
The Worrell family tree is on Pages 618 - 635.

SKINNERS These were
London merchants.
ROBINS Were Quakers on Barbados

LEE Too numerous
to mention (Pages 381 - 387)

WHITEHALL
Edward Henry P637
Jeane P142
William P142

HARRISON To numerous
to mention Pages 287 - 305 - these also throw up other allied names.
Harrison is a prominent name in present day Eastern Va.

Now the Kendal family
was connected with the HOTHERSALL family of Barbados. The Hothersall
were more than likely related to the Goosnargh Helmes. At the end of
their pages it said see Baines History of Lancashire. These are none
other than the Hothersalls of Hothersall Hall which is situated on the
banks of the Rible river just outside of Longridge, Lancashire-near
Dutton where Susan's James Helm came from in 1730). The Hothersalls
were an extremely wealthy gentry family who, like the Goosnargh Helmes
had to leave the country because of the heavy fines imposed on the Catholics-sums
like $50,000 equiv./yr)

TURNERS There is
an absolutely superb write up on the Turners Pages 559 - 569 it says
where they were in New England and Barbados in great detail. This is
definitely worth further study.

PORTERS To whom the
Gillingham Helmes were related Pages 476 - 478. There is a standing
Porter Mansion, on Barbados. We have a photo.

WASHINGTONS Too numerous
too mention - were related to the Washington's of Virginia -also related
to the Tyrell. The first Virginian Washington settler married a Pope.

POPE This family
was also on Barbados.

The SOMERSETS were
not listed.

Note: In 1608, Edward
Somerset was the 3rd Earl of Worcester and lived at Badmington in Avon.
No Calverts either - in one of the books it said that George Calvert,
Baron Baltimore, planted a colony at Avalon, Newfoundland and his son
founded Baltimore.

The Kerrs owned Floors
Castle.

The Gibsons were
on Barbados.

Some of the above
families also had Rous connections. (See also Christopher's son Rouse
of RI.)

The Parkers are very
important to eventually prove a Lancashire connection.

George Helm(e) is
a Goosnargh name and he would be related to the Browsholme Parkers.

Elizabeth
K Hellme
Isabella Hellme of Westfield in Goosenargh, A
Richard Hellme of Lindeth, parish of Warton, K
William Hellme of Caton, L
Christopher Helme of Goosenargh, A
Christopher Helme of Hyneinge, K
Elizabeth Helme of Thistleton, A
Ellen Helme of Barton, A
Ellina Helme of Wood Plumpton, A
George Helme of Barton, A
George Helme, Broughton (to be buried there)
George Helme of Goosenargh, gent, A
Henry Helme of Midleton, yeoman, A
James Helme of Chepin (Chipping), husbandman, A
Janet Helme of Over Kellet, K
Jenet Helme of Counteshey, Chepin, widow, A
Jeneta Helme of Hesketh
John Helme of Church Town, parish of Cartmell, F
John Helme of Dilworth, yeoman, A
John Helme of Over Kellett, L
John Helme, Preston, A
Joshua Helme of Hesketh, A
Leonard Helme of Catforth, A
Margaret Helme of Goosenargh, A
Peter Helme of Chipping, A
Richard Helm of Crowtrees, Chepin, yeoman, A
Robert Helme of Goosenargh, A
Sebell K Helme
Thomas Helme of Goosenargh, A
Thomas Helme of Goosenargh, A
Thomas Helme of Holehouse
Thomas Helme of Lea, A
William Helme of Goosenargh, A
William Helme of Lea, A
William Helme of The Lea, yeoman, A
William Helme of Wood Plumpton, A
Adam Hellme of Freckleton, parish of Preston, A
John Helm of Chipping, A
Richard Helm of Goosnargh, A
Thomas Helme of Lower House in Barniker (Barnacre), A
Bridget Helme of Grimsargh, A
Edward Helme of Chipping, A
Eliza Helme of Goosenargh, A
Eliza Helme of Lea, A
Elizabeth Helme of Chipping, A
Elizabeth Helme of Chipping, A
Elizabeth Helme of Crosslands, parish of Colton
George Helme of Ribleton, parish of Preston, A
Jenetta Helme of Lea, A
John Helme of Chippin, A
John Helme of Forton, A
John Helme of Forton, A
John Helme of Goosenargh, A
John Helme of Grimsargh, A
John Helme of Holwith, A
John Helme of Lea, A
John Helme of Lea, A
John Helme of Over Kellett, K
John Helme of Preston, A
John Helme of Preston, A
John Helme of Salwick, A
John Helme of Whittingham, A
Maria Helme of Leah, A
Mary Helme of Ribleton, A
Thomas Helme of Chipping, A
Thomas Helme of Holloworth, A
Thomas Helme of Over Kellett, K
William Helme of Forton, A
William Helm of Forton, A
William Helme of Goosnargh, A
William Helme of Lea, A
William Helme of Lea, parish of Preston, A
Anthony Helm of Lancaster, yeoman, A
Edward Helm of Preesall, yeoman, A
Jennet Helm of Woodplumpton, widow, A
John Helm of Kirkland, husbandman, A
Margaret Helm of Preston, A
Richard Helm of Trinkelt, husbandman, F
Robert Helm of Preston, yeoman, A
Thomas Helm of Woodplumpton, yeoman, A
William Helm of Lower Wyresdale, yeoman, A
Edmund Helme of Preston, Innkeeper, A
Eleanor Helme of Preston, widow, A
Eleanor of Preston, widow, A
Henry Helme of Barton, shoemaker, A
John Helme of Lancaster, linnen draper, A
Margaret Helme of Catforth, widow, A
Sarah Helme of Lancaster, widow, A
William Helme of Preston, servant, A
George Helmn of Whittingham, yeoman, A
Dorothy Helm, Preston, widow, A
George Helm, Garstang, yeoman, A
Richard Helm, Kirkland (Garstang), husbandman, A
Thomas Helm, Nateby, Garstang, husbandman, A
Elizabeth Helme, Preston, widow, A
Hannah Helme, Lancaster, wife of John Helme. A
John Helme, Great Mitton, husbandman, A
Nathaniel Helme, Preston, yeoman, A
Robert Helme, Dutton, A
William Helme, Barnaker with Bonds, husbandman, A
William Helme, Dutton (Ribchester), A

A = Amounderness
K = Kendal

Admon: this is the
brief summary
Inv: this is the inventory
Tuon bond: this was where a child inherited while under age and the
money was put in trust etc and guardian appointed.

Now, Over Kellet,
Lancaster, Wyresdale and Forton are over 10 miles away from Goosnargh.
All the other place are within a few miles. Susan's 4x Gt Grandfather
was Robert Helme of Dutton, whose will was proved in 1797. He was born
around 1730 and married Grace Walmsley. Dutton is an area of Ribchester.
Note the spelling of Chipping ie Chepin.

The will of John
Helme, Linen Draper, of Lancaster proved 1768 is of interest because
he was probably the John Helme, Linen Draper, who belonged to a group
of Lancashire slavers and partly owned a slaving ship which went out
regularly to Africa, the West Indies and American Colonies.

His will is in the
index for Richmond, PRO. All the other wills, above are kept at Lancashire
Record Office. All they say is that John's will was among a batch that
was "destroyed" over a hundred years ago. All the above wills
are the copyright of Lancashire Record Office. Quite a few have been
read without finding any mention of Merediths, Mayberrys or Lynaughs
or any of surnames associated with Leonard Helm's line in Virginia.

There might be wills
which were proved at a higher Church Court such as the Parochial Court
of Canterbury. It is possible that several Helmes were mega rich and
had to go to Canterbury. Those would be listed in London.

Note also that none
of the above persons use those surnames as their given name.

Note:
Some consideration might be given to lists of Naturalization, but not
everyone who immigrated was naturalized. Such records only rarely give
the exact place of a person's birth or previous residence.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

All
the Helm/Helme marriages have extracted from Boyd's Marriage Index.
It is more comprehensive than the IGI. Some of the spellings leave very
much to be desired eg Hathornthwait should read Haythornthwaite, Nuesame
should read Newsham, I think. Again I believe Grason should read Grayson,
Grayston or Graceton. You will note that again, no males use a surname
as a Christian name. We must also remember that in those days, the groom
always married in the parish of the bride. Therefore it does not show
any marriages which took place out of county. A map which shows the
parishes in Lancashire which are close around Goosnargh are shown in
a map of the area, click here
to view map. Some of the locations mentioned in the lists above are
shown.

The question is:
Do any of the above maiden names appear in any connection with the Helmes
who emigrated to the US? eg did they own the farm next door? Or did
they use the wives surnames as first names for the males?

THE
CATHOLIC QUESTION

The following is
from page 167 of the "Convicted Recusants, Chas II - Lancashire"

"The will of
Elizabeth Helme (Holme and Holmes were common corruptions of the name)
was proved in 1690. The Helmes of Lea were a junior branch of the very
old family of the name seated at Church House in Goosnargh, of whom
John Helme, a priest, was living there in 1478, and another of the same
name was curate of Goosnargh in 1583, whilst a third priest, says Col.
Fishwick in his Hist. of Goosnargh, Nicholas Helm, was vicar of Kirkham
in 1594, Dom Hugh Bede Helme alias Tapin, O.S.B., a native of Lancashire,
whom Abbot Snow in his Benedictine Necrology confuses with Thomas Tunstall,
alias Helmes, the martyr, in 1600 was admitted into the English College
at Valladolid (Spain), which he left to join the Benedictines in 1603,
and died in Durham in 1629; Dom Gregory Helme, O.S.B., died in 1696;
Dom. Richard Helme or Holmes O.S.B. died at Sefton in 1717; and Dom.
Thomas Wilfrid Helme O.S.B. of the CHURCH HOUSE family, professed in
1699, died in 1742. There were several Franciscans of the family - Fr
Thomas Willibrord Helme or Holmes was serving in the neighborhood of
Goosnargh, probably at White Hill, in 1728 and died in 1772 or 1773;
Fr Germans Helme or Holmes succeeded to White Hill in 1738 and from
thence served Lee House till 1745, when he was thrown into Lancaster
Castle, where he died a confessor of the faith in 1746; and Edward Helme
or Holme, a novice at Douay in 1757 was assistant chaplain to the English
nuns at Acre in Artois, subsequently came to the mission, and finally
conformed, and as a reward, for his apostasy received a living in Essex,
but died the day he preached his first sermon,about 1773. And lastly
may be named a direct descendant of the lady of the test, the Rev. Edward
Helme or Holmes, son of Thomas Helme of Lea, tanner, a Catholic non-juror
in 1717, and his wife Elizabeth Barton, born in January 1725, who after
studying at Fernyhalgh and the Rev. Simon George Borley's school at
Salwick Hall, was admitted to Douay College, Sept 25, 1737, ordained
priest Sept 21, 1748, after teaching syntax, poetry and philosophy,
came to the mission in 1753 and was appointed to Manchester, which he
served till his death Oct 16, 1773. His brother's daughter became the
wife of John Turner, an attorney in Preston and was mother of the Rt.
Rev. William Turner, first Bishop of Salford, born 1799, died 1872,
whose brother, John succeeded to the small estate of the Helmes in Lea,
which is now held by his son and namesake."

John Medford wrote
that the Catholics had been concentrated at Speighstown, Barbados, where
one Thomas Helme had property. There was some disturbance relative to
the Catholics, but no details are available.

Susan has found the
following baptisms for possible Thomas Helmes born in Gillingham, Dorsetshire:
1644 Thomas Helme son of Robert Helme
1675 Thomas Helme son of Thomas Helme

"8 July 1705
Mr Thomas Helme of Gillingham, co Dorset England, gent, only brother
and heir at law of Robert Helme late of Nevis. Letter of attorney to
Mr Philip Brome (Christiana Helme's husband) of Nevis, gent and Mr.
Robert Helme of Nevis, merchant to recover all sums owing at the Leeward
Islands."

"Robert Helme
was a merchant in Nevis in 1676, and was aged 30 in 1680, and agent
for the Royal African Company till 1685. Mr Thomas Helme of Gillingham
was described in 1705 as only brother and heir-at-law of Robert Helme.
Major William Helme of Antigua 1691 apparently was the brother of Thomas
and Robert Helme and died about 1703 leaving a daughter, an heiress,
Mary, who in 1708 married JOHN PINNEY of Nevis etc."

Pinney's Beach is
in the midway of the West side of Nevis, close to the Alexander Hamilton
Museum.

The faith of the
Dorset Helmes is not certain.

Sarah Helmes, 1690,
will, perhaps the Sarah who is also listed in Barbados,,as married to
Maj. Thomas Helme. He predeceased her and their son, Col. Thomas predeceased
her. His rank of Col. was in the militia and may have been posthumously
awarded. That family's data is recorded in the C of E records on Barbados.

Elizabeth Helme,
1792, will

Philip Brome, 1708,
will, . He was the second husband of Christiana Helme. There may be
a connection of Philip, through the Broome's of Maryland and Delaware,
with marriage with the North Carolina Helms.

A pedigree of the
Butlers of Nevis has been found by Susan Grimshaw. One of the Daughters
of the Maj. Thomas and Sarah Helme of Barbados was married to a Butler.
That pedigree requires further study.

St. Kits (St. Christopher):

John Porter, 1687,
will. His relation to the Helmes is uncertain. The Porter Helme connection
was through Judith Porter. "Will of Judith Porter, made 22 November
1665 proved 1668 (PCC) my husband Capt. Wm Porter my estate until my
son, William Pinney, is 21. Will mentions Capt. Thomas Helme. etc"
Besides those entries, there were Helmes related items found on other
Caribbean Islands, as follows:

Monserratt:

John Elmes, 1654,
debt for Tobacco 100.

Barbados:

Sarah Baxter, 1771,
will. She was a relative of the Gillingham Helmes, which is thought
to have been a "root" Helmes family in the Caribbean. Whether
Helmes from other English sources are involved is not known. The Helme
and Elme spellings seem to have been interchangeable, in England.

This data is from
"Caribbeana" Vol II. These volumes are still being studied.
(There are a number of such volumes.)

The above data indicates
a need for more interest in the other islands, possibly including Jamaica.

More
information on this will be placed in this page, as it is developed.

Section
B: WILLS PROBATED AT THE LONDON AND YORK, PROROGATIVE COURTS

Above a certain estate
value the English wills were probated at two courts. Those South of
the river Trent were probated at London, and those North of that river
were probated at York. So, these wills will have been for the more prominent
people. if a person had possessions in several places they were probated
at London and so were the military wills.

In our English studies
we obtained and transcribed the wills we found in those records for
persons with HELME. ELME, or similar spellings.

Unfortunately, these
original records are restricted against publication, so we are not permitted
to pass them along to others.

However, since we
do have a number of such wills, we can serve as a place for inquiries
about those which we studied. To facilitate such work, we have extracted
the pertinent information and made tables for each Prerogative court.
If a reader wishes to see the actual documents, the authorities will
download them for modest fees. In this study, we have only worked on
the HELMES and similar wills. The more complete listings of available
wills can be obtained from the English authorities.

To view a compilation
of the revel ant will information for the London wills click
here. To view a compilation of the relevant will information for
the York
wills click here.